Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K3/00—Materials not provided for elsewhere
  • C09K3/18—Materials not provided for elsewhere for application to surfaces to minimize adherence of ice, mist or water thereto; Thawing or antifreeze materials for application to surfaces
  • C09K3/185—Thawing materials
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K3/00—Materials not provided for elsewhere
  • C09K3/18—Materials not provided for elsewhere for application to surfaces to minimize adherence of ice, mist or water thereto; Thawing or antifreeze materials for application to surfaces

Definitions

• Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved compositions for de- icing surfaces and to anti-icing compositions intended to prevent icing of surfaces in freezing conditions.
• the compositions of the present disclosure are further suitable for preventing the build-up of snow or other frozen or freezing precipitation on surfaces.
• the compositions of the present disclosure can provide enhanced de-icing and anti-icing performance and enhanced environmental benefits in comparison to conventional products.
• the compositions of the present disclosure can usefully be applied to surfaces traversed by vehicles and by pedestrians, for example.
• the present disclosure the compositions of the present disclosure can usefully be applied to surfaces traversed by vehicles and by pedestrians, for example.
• compositions of the invention can usefully be applied to ground surfaces traversed by aircraft.
• Chemical de-icing and anti-icing treatments are routinely used in freezing weather conditions, notably in the winter and in cold climates, to prevent the formation or build up of snow and/or ice on surfaces traversed by pedestrians or vehicles, such as on paths, pavements (sidewalks), stairways, roads, airport taxiways, aprons and runways and such like.
• Such compositions act by melting existing snow and ice, or by preventing the formation of ice, on the surface to which the treatment is applied.
• compositions at airports imposes particular constraints on the nature of the compositions in terms of their effectiveness, their compatibility with aircraft (for example the compositions must not cause corrosion or other damage to any part of the aircraft which might have a detrimental effect on the airworthiness of the aircraft) and, more recently, in terms of the environmental effects of the compositions.
• de/anti-icer compositions for use on travelled surfaces have contained ethylene glycol. Although ethylene glycol-containing compositions demonstrate high performance with regard to de-icing and anti-icing ability, they also suffer from several significant disadvantages. Any de/anti-icer composition applied to a travelled surface is likely to be washed off the surface by water from melting snow and ice and/or by rainwater. The de/anti-icer composition is thus brought into contact with the wider environment.
• Ethylene glycol is toxic to humans with numerous cases of poisoning reported in the UK and worldwide. Furthermore, ethylene glycol-based de/anti-icers have a high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and thus exhibit deleterious effects when exposed to the wider environment following their application. As a result, the use of ethylene glycol has been prohibited in aircraft de-icing fluids in Europe and at some airports in North America.
• COD Chemical Oxygen Demand
• Alternative de-icer compositions include those with urea as the active ingredient.
• urea-based de-icer compositions have a highly adverse environmental impact due to their very high COD and by acting as a rich source of nitrogen. Urea-based de-icer compositions are therefore highly damaging to any watercourses which receive run-off from the surface to which the de-icer is applied.
• the suitability of urea-based compositions as effective de-icers is further compromised by a comparatively high minimum effective temperature of -12°C (10°F) which is insufficiently low in colder climates where lower ground temperatures are often encountered.
• Airside de/anti-icing compositions based on 50% w/w aqueous solution of potassium formate are also used and function in the same way as 50% w/w potassium acetate based fluids but have even lower COD and BOD values.
• liquid de/anti-icer compositions It is generally considered advantageous in formulating liquid de/anti-icer compositions to seek a composition having the lowest possible freezing point to maximise the de/anti-icing performance of the composition.
• Chemical de/anti-icer compositions act as freezing point depressants and function by introducing the freezing point depressant into contact with the body of frozen or liquid water to which the de/anti-icer composition is applied.
• the freezing point depressant lowers the freezing point of the body of water.
• frozen water is melted (resulting in a liquid solution of the freezing point depressant in water) and initially liquid water forms a solution of the freezing point depressant and is prevented from freezing.
• the freezing point of a de/anti-icer composition based on water and a freezing point depressant is related to the concentration of the freezing point depressant.
• concentration of the freezing point depressant is reduced by the introduction of more water, for example, by falling precipitation and/or by melting of ice or snow.
• the freezing point of the water-de/anti-icer composition mixture rises. That is, the resultant mixture of water and de/anti-icer composition freezes at a higher temperature than a corresponding mixture where the de/anti icer composition concentration is higher.
• the de/anti-icing composition ceases to be effective: the mixture will freeze. Consequently, with a mixture in this state, treated surfaces will freeze over or no further effective clearing of frozen water will occur unless further de/anti-icing composition is applied.
• potassium acetate or potassium formate based de-icers are formulated at a concentration of approximately 50% w/w aqueous solution as this is approximately the eutectic point for such a composition.
• the freezing point of 50% w/w aqueous potassium formate or acetate is -60°C (-76° F).
• concentration of potassium formate or potassium acetate is increased to above this level, the freezing point becomes significantly higher.
• a 65% w/w solution of potassium formate or potassium acetate has a freezing point of approximately -22°C (-8°F) and a 70% w/w solution has a freezing point of approximately -10°C (14°F).
• potassium acetate or potassium formate solutions of such high freezing points exhibit poor performance as de/anti-icer compositions and their practical use is limited. With such high freezing points there is a serious risk of the potassium acetate or potassium formate solution freezing in storage tanks, in the associated de-icing equipment or freezing on the ground during cold weather.
• compositions must necessarily comprise at least 50% w/w water. Because melting of ice and/or snow inherently causes further dilution, this inherent quantity of water limits the amount of further water/ice melt such compositions can accommodate before the freezing point of the resulting mixture rises above ambient temperature, that is, before the resulting mixture itself freezes. Consequently, both the "hold-over" time (i.e.
• the time during which the composition continues to have an anti-icing effect) of products based on 50% w/w acetate or formate compositions when applied as anti-icers, and the amount of frozen material that can be cleared per application as a de-icer, is limited.
• the presence of 50% w/w water means that the potassium acetate or potassium formate concentration gradient at the de-icer/ice boundary is relatively limited, which restricts the rate at which acetate or formate ions migrate down the concentration gradient into the crystal structure of the ice to cause it to melt.
• potassium formate or potassium acetate ions present in standard 50% w/w aqueous de-icer compositions are also completely hydrated, negating any advantageous thermodynamic effects which could otherwise occur arising from interactions between incompletely hydrated species and water.
• US 5 064 551 describes de-icing compositions comprising potassium acetate or potassium formate, in conjunction with small amounts of phosphate and nitrite salts.
• the content of potassium acetate/formate can be as much as 60% w/w and compositions of 50% to 53% w/w potassium acetate/formate are stated to be preferred. Only compositions containing 50% potassium acetate are exemplified.
• Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide de/anti icer compositions which can ameliorate or overcome some or all of the above problems.
• embodiments of the present invention seek to provide de/anti-icer compositions which can have at least one or more of the following advantages. That is, embodiments of the invention seek to provide de/anti-icer compositions which: (i) can be effective at lower temperatures, (ii) can be applied at lower application rates, (iii) can be relatively inexpensive, (iv) can have reduced environmental impact and/or (v) can be safe for applications where the compositions may come into contact with aircraft.
• Embodiments of the present invention relate to improved compositions for de- icing surfaces and to anti-icing compositions intended to prevent icing of various surfaces in freezing conditions.
• the compositions disclosed herein can be used for preventing the build-up of snow or other frozen or freezing precipitation on surfaces.
• the compositions disclosed herein can provide enhanced de-icing and anti-icing performance and reduced environmental impact in comparison to conventional products.
• Embodiments of the present invention can be applied to surfaces traversed by vehicles and pedestrians, for example, and to ground surfaces traversed by aircraft and other vehicles.
• the de-icer or anti-icer composition for a travelled surface can comprise approximately 25% w/w or more of one or more acetate salts and from approximately 14% to approximately 50% w/w of one or more non-acetate salts; wherein the total concentration of the one or more acetate salts and the one or more non-acetate salts is approximately 57% w/w or more.
• the one or more acetate salts can be selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, ammonium acetate, and mixtures thereof.
• the one or more non-acetate salts can be selected from the group consisting of one or more cations selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, ammonium and mixtures thereof.
• the one or more non-acetate salts can be selected from the group consisting of one or more anions selected from the group consisting of formate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, glutarate, adipate, citrate, gluconate, benzoate, carbonate, bicarbonate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, and mixtures thereof.
• the composition can be a liquid.
• Particular embodiments of the present invention provide a de-icer or anti-icer composition for a travelled surface comprising:
• non-acetate salt consisting of one or more cations selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, ammonium or mixtures thereof and one or more anions selected from the group consisting of formate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, glutarate, adipate, citrate, gluconate, benzoate, carbonate, bicarbonate, fluoride, chloride, bromide or mixtures thereof;
• the balance being solvent and optionally not more than about 5% w/w in total of one or more auxiliary or incidental additives,
• the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non- acetate salt in the de-icer or anti-icer composition is at least about 57% w/w.
• the ratio of acetate salt : non-acetate salt can be from about 3: 1 to about 1 :3.
• composition can comprise from about 25% to about 57% w/w of said at least one acetate salt.
• the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non-acetate salt can be from about 57% to about 76% w/w.
• the composition can comprise from about 25% to about 45% w/w of said at least one acetate salt. In further embodiments the composition can comprise from about 25% to about 40% w/w of said at least one acetate salt and in still further embodiments the composition can comprise from about 25% to about 35% w/w of said at least one acetate salt.
• composition can comprise between 30% and 35% w/w of said at least one acetate salt.
• the composition can comprise from about 14% to about 45% w/w of said at least one non-acetate salt. In further embodiments the composition can comprise from about 14% to about 40% w/w of said at least one non- acetate salt. In still further embodiments the composition can comprise from about 14% to about 35% w/w of said at least one non-acetate salt.
• composition can comprise between 25% and 35% w/w of said at least one non-acetate salt.
• the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non-acetate salt in the de-icer or anti-icer composition can be from more than 60% to about 76% w/w. In other embodiments the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non-acetate salt in the de-icer or anti-icer composition can be from more than 60% to about 65% w/w. In still other embodiments the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non-acetate salt in the de-icer or anti-icer composition can be from about 61 % to about 76% w/w.
• the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non-acetate salt in the de-icer or anti-icer composition can be from about 61 % to about 65% w/w. In other embodiments the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non-acetate salt in the de-icer or anti-icer composition can be from about 62% to about 64% w/w. In still other embodiments the total concentration of said at least one acetate salt and said at least one non-acetate salt in the de-icer or anti-icer composition can be about 62.25% to about 62.75%.
• a cation of the at least one acetate salt can be selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium or lithium or mixtures thereof and more especially said cation is potassium.
• the at least one non-acetate salt consists of one or more cations selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, lithium or mixtures thereof.
• the cation can be potassium.
• the at least one non-acetate salt can comprise one or more anions selected from the group consisting of formate, propionate, succinate or mixtures thereof.
• said anion can be formate.
• said acetate salt can be potassium acetate and said non- acetate salt can be potassium formate.
• auxiliary or incidental additives can be selected from one or more of corrosion inhibitors, stabilisers, viscosity modifiers, surfactants, pH buffers and anti-foaming agents.
• an auxiliary or incidental additive can be a dye.
• the dye can be a blue dye.
• an "auxiliary or incidental additive" is a component of the composition, present in a relatively small amount (relative to the acetate and non-acetate salts), the primary intended purpose (as recognized by a person skilled in the art) of which is other than the depression of freezing point.
• an auxiliary or incidental additive can be included to modify properties (which may be initial properties or post-application properties) of the composition of the invention other than those connected directly with de- icing or anti-icing.
• properties which may be initial properties or post-application properties
• auxiliary or incidental additives it is possible that a given auxiliary or incidental additive can have some freezing point depressing effect However such effect is de minimis compared with that of the acetate and non-acetate salt combination, notably in view of the small amount of such additive which is present in the composition.
• Notable auxiliary or incidental additives include corrosion inhibitors.
• said one or more incidental or auxiliary additives can be a corrosion inhibitor or a combination of corrosion inhibitors.
• said corrosion inhibitors or combination of corrosion inhibitors can be at least one member selected from the group comprising: carboxylic acids of carbon number C3 or greater or the sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium or ammonium salts thereof, amines, amides, azoles or imides or the carboxylate, phosphate, phosphonate, or borate salts thereof, phosphonates or the sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium or ammonium salts thereof, inorganic salts of carbonic acid, sodium or potassium silicates, inorganic salts of nitrous acid and/or inorganic salts of boric acid.
• said corrosion inhibitor or combination of corrosion inhibitors can be selected from the group comprising potassium or sodium salts of one or more saturated or unsaturated C6 carboxylic acids, potassium or sodium salts of one or more saturated C9 carboxylic acids, one or more potassium or sodium salts of carbonic acid and potassium or sodium silicate.
• a combination of corrosion inhibitors can comprise (or can consist of) potassium or sodium salts of one or more saturated or unsaturated C6 carboxylic acids, potassium or sodium salts of one or more saturated C9 carboxylic acids, one or more potassium or sodium salts of carbonic acid and potassium or sodium silicate.
• the total concentration of said corrosion inhibitor or combination of corrosion inhibitors can be not more than about 1 % by weight of the composition.
• the pH of the composition can be from pH 7 to pH 1 1.5. In further embodiments the pH of the composition can be about pH 1 1. [0041] In some embodiments the composition can exhibit a net system temperature increase of at least 1.0°C (2°F) when mixed on an equal weight basis with water when following the heat of hydration test procedure as specified herein.
• said composition can exhibit a net system temperature increase of at least 4.0°C (7°F) when mixed on an equal weight basis with water when following the heat of hydration test procedure as specified herein.
• a unit of the composition such as a given mass of said composition (i.e. a composition as above defined), when applied to the surface of a body of ice of known mass and surface area at -2°C (28° F) or -10°C (14°F), over a period of 5, 10 or 30 minutes can melt a mass of ice at least 25% greater than the equivalent unit
• a unit of said composition such as a given mass of said composition (i.e. a composition as above defined), when applied to the surface of a body of ice of known mass and surface area at -2°C (28° F) or -10°C (14°F), over a period of 5, 10 or 30 minutes, can melt a mass of more than 40% greater than an equivalent unit (such as the same mass) of a 50% w/w aqueous solution of potassium acetate applied to a body of ice with the same mass and surface area (as the body of ice to which the composition of the invention is applied) for the same time at the same temperature.
• a given mass of said composition i.e. a composition as above defined
• an equivalent unit such as the same mass
• the percentage mass of ice melted is determined according to the ice melting performance test procedure as specified herein.
• said solvent is an aqueous solvent and more especially said solvent is water.
• a method of treating a travelled surface comprising applying to the surface a de-icing or anti- icing composition as defined herein.
• a method of de-icing a travelled surface comprising applying to the surface a de-icing or anti-icing composition as defined herein.
• Figure 1 is a graph showing the freezing point of aqueous solutions of potassium acetate, potassium formate and potassium acetate/potassium formate mixture of ratio 1.1 : 1 , sodium chloride, urea and a theoretical ideal solution plotted against total molal concentration;
• Figure 2 is a graph showing the freezing point profile of a typical de/anti-icer composition of the invention compared to a 50% w/w potassium acetate based commercial de-icer solution and a 63% w/w potassium acetate based de-icer solution;
• Figure 3 is a graph showing the mass of ice melted per 5g for various de-icer compositions at -2°C plotted against time;
• Figure 4 is a graph showing the mass of ice melted per 5g for various de-icer compositions at -10°C plotted against time.
• Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value.
• de/anti-icer Asused herein, the terms "de/anti-icer”, “de/anti-icer compositions” and “de/anti icing compositions” and linguistic or grammatical variants thereof refer to chemical compositions suitable for application to a surface to melt existing water in frozen form (i.e. ice or snow), or to prevent the formation of ice or settling or accumulation of snow or other frozen or freezing precipitation on the surface in freezing conditions. Any given
• composition can be suitable for use only as a de-icer, only as an anti-icer or as both a de- icer and an anti-icer depending, for example, on the nature of the surface to which the de/anti-icer composition is applied and the presence or absence of other formulation agents (such as corrosion inhibitors or viscosity modifiers, for example) which can render the composition suitable, or unsuitable, for application to a given surface.
• formulation agents such as corrosion inhibitors or viscosity modifiers, for example
• de-icer de-icer composition
• de icing composition and linguistic or grammatical variants thereof are used to refer to a chemical composition suitable for application to a surface to remove existing ice or snow or other frozen or freezing precipitation.
• compositions and linguistic or grammatical variants thereof are used to refer to a chemical composition suitable for application to a surface to prevent the formation of ice or settling of snow or other frozen or freezing precipitation.
• a de-icer composition when applied to a surface can have an on-going effect after initial ice and snow has been removed, preventing the formation of further ice and snow or other frozen or freezing precipitation (i.e. an anti-icing effect).
• travelled surface and linguistic or grammatical variants thereof refers to a ground surface traversed by a pedestrian or by any type of land vehicle or by an aircraft when on the ground, and in particular to such surfaces where the presence or formation of frozen water such as ice or snow would limit, restrict, prevent, make hazardous or otherwise represent an increased danger to, the safe traversal of the surface by a pedestrian, land vehicle or aircraft.
• travelled surface can also apply to any surface where, in freezing conditions (or in anticipation of freezing conditions), de-icer and/or anti-icer compositions are conventionally applied and more especially to such surfaces which are constructed for the specific purpose of traversal by pedestrians, land vehicles or aircraft when on the ground.
• Examples of travelled surfaces include, without limitation, footpaths, footways and tracks, pavements (sidewalks), walkways, boardwalks, stairways, roads and highways, bridges, footbridges, car parks (parking lots), railways (railroads), railway stations (train stations) and platforms, tramways and tram stops, bus stops, airport taxiways, airport aprons and airport runways.
• the term "travelled surface” refers in particular to any ground surface traversed by a vehicle at the "airside" part of an airport, including one or more of ground surfaces traversed by aircraft during take-off, landing and/or taxiing operations.
• “Travelled surface” refers especially to such surfaces at commercial airports.
• travelled surface refers in aspects and embodiments of the invention to any ground surface traversed by passenger- and/or freight-carrying commercial aircraft and notably to any such ground surface traversed by passenger- and/or freight-carrying commercial aircraft operating scheduled or charter services.
• travelled surfaces traversed by aircraft within the ambit of the present invention can include runways and taxing surfaces and apron areas at military airbases and at private airfields, aerodromes and flying clubs.
• aircraft may refer to either or both of fixed wing aircraft and rotary wing aircraft.
• the de/anti-icer compositions of the present invention seek to mitigate or overcome the problems associated with prior art compositions by providing an aqueous de/anti-icing composition comprising at least one acetate salt and at least one non-acetate salt.
• the de/anti-icer composition is a liquid composition.
• liquid de/anti-icer demonstrate improved performance and have reduced environmental impact compared to known solid compositions.
• the improved performance can be derived from the concentration of salts used in the compositions that can ultimately arise in a synergistic effect that can lead to a decrease in the freezing point of the mixed salt de/anti-icer solution.
• enhanced de/anti icing performance can be obtained when the total salt concentration, being the sum of the concentration of the at least one acetate salt and the concentration of the at least one non-acetate salt, is at least about 57% w/w. In some embodiments said total salt concentration is greater than 57% w/w, and in sill further embodiments is greater than 60% w/w, such as 61 % w/w or more, or about 62.5% w/w.
• total salt concentration concentration of said at least one non-acetate salt.
• the total salt concentration is from 57 to about 76% w/w of the de/anti-icer composition.
• the total salt concentration is about 61 to 65% w/w of the de/anti-icer composition such as about 62 to 64% w/w of the de/anti-icer composition and notably about 62.25 to about 62.75% w/w of the de/anti-icer composition.
• Certain mixtures of acetate and non-acetate salts can exhibit a beneficial synergistic effect on freezing point depression, such that a solution of an acetate and non- acetate salt mixture, as herein described, can exhibit a lower freezing point than a solution of the same total salt concentration of either of the individual salts alone.
• ⁇ represents the change in freezing point compared to pure solvent
• K F represents the cryoscopic constant of the solvent
• b represents the molality of the solute
• i represents the van 't Hoff factor of the solute.
• Freezing point equation (1) assumes an ideal solution in which no solvent/solute interactions occur and freezing point depression is purely determined by colligative effects.
• the lower real freezing point of potassium acetate and potassium formate solutions compared to the theoretical value derived from equation (1) is due to advantageous non- ideal solute/solvent interactions.
• compositions disclosed herein of both the acetate salt and the non-acetate salt is believed to synergistically enhance this system of advantageous non-ideal solute/solvent interactions by:
• the combination of the acetate salt and the non-acetate salt (in particular the formate salt), at the specified total salt concentration can prevent the solution from undergoing true crystalline freezing and instead forces the solution to undergo a glass transition. This is believed to be due to a much higher degree of disorder in the mixed salt system compared to a single salt system of equivalent total salt concentration.
• the overall degree of disorder of the mixed salt/water system of the invention is sufficient to prevent ordered (crystalline) solidification at the eutectic total salt concentration and at higher total concentrations.
• the solidification temperature of the mixed salt solution of the invention is observed to be the same as the eutectic
• the relative amount of the at least one acetate salt with respect to the at least one non-acetate salt can be (at least approximately) within a defined range.
• the composition of the invention can consist of from about 25% to 57% w/w of at least one acetate salt and from about 14% to about 50% w/w of at least one non-acetate salt.
• the ratio of acetate to non-acetate salt can be from 3: 1 to 1 :3. In some embodiments, the ratio can be from about 2: 1 to about 1 :2. In other embodiments, the ratio can be from about 1.5: 1 to about 1 : 1.5. In still other embodiments, the ratio of acetate to non-acetate salt can be about 1.1 : 1.
• acetate salts can comprise at least 25% w/w of the composition of the invention.
• the effective maximum acetate concentration is governed by the highest concentration at which the acetate salt will dissolve, which is typically around approximately 76% w/w.
• Acetate salts which are useful in the de/anti-icer compositions according to the invention include those having a cation selected from the group comprising potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, ammonium or mixtures thefeof.
• Useful non-acetate salts to be included with the-acetate salt(s) in the de-icer compositions of the invention include those having cations selected from the group comprising potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, ammonium or mixtures thereof.
• Useful non-acetate salts to be included with the acetate salt(s) in the de-icer compositions of the invention include those having anions from the group selected from the group comprising formate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, oxalate, malonate, succinate, glutarate, adipate, citrate, gluconate, benzoate, carbonate, bicarbonate, fluoride, chloride, bromide or mixtures thereof.
• Succinate can have the property of making the de/anti-icer composition somewhat slippery and therefore such composition can be unsuitable for use on travelled surfaces.
• useful non- acetate salts to be included with the acetate salt(s) in the de-icer compositions of the invention include those having anions from the group selected from the group comprising formate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, oxalate, malonate, glutarate, adipate, citrate, gluconate, benzoate, carbonate, bicarbonate, fluoride, chloride, bromide or mixtures thereof.
• compositions including chloride may not meet non-corrsoion requirements, such as in relation to aircraft when the de/anti-icer compsotions according to embodiments of the invention are used at airside locations.
• the anion of the non acetate salt is other than chloride.
• potassium can be used in the compositions of the invention as the counter ion of the acetate salt or of the non-acetate salt, or of both the acetate and non- acetate salts.
• Inclusion of potassium salts can encourage faster ice melting due to the high water affinity and mobility of potassium ions, which can enable a high rate of diffusion of freezing point depressant into the ice crystal structure. This effect can occur via a mechanism involving a rapidly moving diffusion front of potassium ions, with the corresponding acetate and/or non-acetate anions rapidly following the diffusion front by moving down a local electrochemical gradient generated by the movement of potassium ions.
• compositions disclosed herein can lead to the creation of a greater concentration gradient at the de-icer/ice boundary which can further significantly enhance the faster penetration effect of the freezing point depressant into the ice crystal structure compared to a conventional 50% w/w potassium acetate or 50% potassium formate solution.
• the de-icer composition may optionally include a corrosion inhibitor or a combination of corrosion inhibitors, such as for use in locations where aircraft can be present.
• Suitable corrosion inhibitors can compirse C3 or greater carboxylic acids (such as, for example, propanoic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid and so on) or the potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium and/or ammonium salts of such carboxylic acids.
• Other suitable corrosion inhibitors can comprise C3 or greater alcohols (e.g. propargyl alcohol), ketones (e.g. acetophenone) or aldehydes (e.g. cinnamaldehyde).
• corrosion inhibitors can compirse amines (e.g hexylamine), amides (e.g. ethoxylated fatty amines), imides (e.g. ethoxylated cocoimidazolines), azoles (e.g.
• benzotriazole and/or the carboxylate (e.g. ethoxylated cocoimidazoline acetate), carbonate, bicarbonate (e.g. cyclohexylamine salts of carbonic acid), phosphate, phosphite, phosphonate (e.g. triethanolamine salts of orthophosphoric acid,
• carboxylate e.g. ethoxylated cocoimidazoline acetate
• carbonate e.g. cyclohexylamine salts of carbonic acid
• phosphate phosphite
• phosphonate e.g. triethanolamine salts of orthophosphoric acid
• polyphosphoric acid polyphosphorous acid or phosphonic acid
• sulphate e.g. diisobutylamine salts of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid or sulphonic acid
• nitrite e.g. dicyclohexylamine nitrite
• borate e.g. aminoethoxyethanol salts of boric acid
• Phosphonates or the potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, aluminium and/or ammonium salts thereof may also be used.
• Further corrosion inhibitors can include sulphonates or the potassium, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, and/or ammonium salts thereof.
• Inorganic salts can also form suitable corrosion inhibitors.
• silicates or inorganic salts of carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, boric acid, sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid, nitric acid or nitrous acid are suitable.
• inorganic and organic salts of zinc can be suitable as corrosion inhibitors.
• compositions of the invention can have the added benefit of acting also as corrosion inhibitors, one example being C3 or greater carboxylate salts such as potassium propionate.
• the amount and/or composition of the optional incidental or auxiliary additives acting as corrosion inhibitors can be adjusted accordingly.
• a lower amount of corrosion inhibitors can be included in the de/anti-icer composition and/or a different combination of corrosion inhibitors may be used, for example.
• auxiliary or incidental additives which may be included for various different purposes, it is possible that a given auxiliary or incidental additive may have some freezing point depressing effect. However such effect is de minimis compared with that of the acetate and non-acetate salt combination, notably in view of the small amount of such additive which is present in the composition.
• auxiliary or incidental additives which may have a small or incidental freezing point depressing effect but which are included for a primary purpose, function or effect (as recognised by a person of ordinary skill in the art) other than freezing point depression (such as inhibition of corrosion) are, for the purposes of the present invention, not included in the calculation of the amount of non-acetate salt(s) in the de/anti-icer composition.
• auxiliary or incidental additives are incorporated to function primarily as corrosion inhibitors
• said auxiliary or incidental additives comprise less than 5% w/w in total of the total concentration of the de/anti-icer composition according to the invention.
• the corrosion inhibitors, where included, can comprise not more than 1 % w/w in total of the composition.
• two or more corrosion inhibitors can be included in the de/anti-icer composition of the invention.
• the corrosion inhibitors can be selected from a mixture of potassium or sodium salts of one or more saturated or unsaturated C6 carboxylic acids, potassium or sodium salts of one or more saturated C9 carboxylic acids, one or more potassium or sodium salts of carbonic acid and potassium or sodium silicate.
• Corrosion inhibitor combinations suitable for use, in particular, at airside locations of airports are commercially available and can generally be incorporated into the compositions of the present invention, with the proviso that such commercial corrosion inhibitor combinations do not materially compromise the effectiveness of the de/anti icing properties of the compositions.
• the pH of the de/anti-icer composition of the invention can be in the range of pH 7 to 1 1.5 to ensure conformance with international standard levels for commercial airfield de-icer products.
• the pH of the de/anti-icer composition of the invention can be in the range of pH 10.5 to pH 11.5. In still further embodiments, the pH of the de/anti-icer composition can be about pH 11.
• the suggested application rates of de/anti-icer composition 3 according to Table 1 to maximise the de-icing and anti-icing effect, are shown in Table 2, by way of example.
• the skilled person will be able to adapt the application rates in accordance with particular weather conditions prevailing, or anticipated, locally and likewise for other formulations within the scope of the invention having different amounts of acetate and non-acetate salts.
• the de/anti-icer composition of the present disclosure can exhibit a consistently lower freezing point on dilution when compared to a solution comprising 63% potassium acetate only (i.e. a solution with equivalent total salt concentration to the composition 3 of Table 1).
• a solution comprising 63% potassium acetate only i.e. a solution with equivalent total salt concentration to the composition 3 of Table 1.
• the freezing point of 63% potassium acetate only de-icer is about -45°C compared to about -56°C for the composition according to the present disclosure.
• the de/anti-icer composition 3 of Table 1 was independently and anonymously tested for ice melting performance by Anti-Icing Materials International Laboratory (AMIL), located at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, using test method AIR6170.
• AIL Anti-Icing Materials International Laboratory
• AIR6170 For the AIR6170 method, at a given ambient temperature, 5g of de-icer is poured onto a 60g disc of ice in a Petri dish and the amount of ice melted is measured after 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 30 minutes. Simultaneous tests were conducted for 50% w/w potassium acetate solution, two anonymous commercial de-icer products both based on 50% w/w potassium acetate and one anonymous commercial de-icer product based on 50% w/w potassium formate.
• Example 1 Ice melting rate at -2°C
• Figure 3 shows the results of the first test conducted at an ambient temperature of -2°C (28°F). On average, the ice melting rate of the de/anti-icer composition of the present disclosure was found to be 30% greater than the other compositions tested at -2°C.
• Figure 4 shows the results of the second test conducted at an ambient
• the ice melting rate of the de/anti-icer composition of the present disclosure was found to be 43% greater than the other compositions tested at -10°C.
• the test is performed at an ambient temperature of between 15 to 25°C (59 to 11°?).
• polystyrene or mineral-wool type insulation covering the entire bottom of the beaker and the sides of the beaker up to at least 4/5ths height.
• the temperature increase obtained is calculated using the formula:
• Composition 1 of the invention as described in Table 1 Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 MEAN
• the de/anti-icer composition 1 as described in Table 1 exhibits a net system temperature increase of 3.0°C (6°F) when mixed on an equal weight basis with water.
• the de/anti-icer composition 3 as described in Table 1 exhibits a net temperature increase of from 4°C to 5°C (7°F to 9°F).
• a 50% w/w potassium acetate solution or 50% w/w potassium formate solution exhibits no net system temperature increase.
• Example 4 Ice melting performance relative to 50% w/w potassium acetate
• stop/start digital timer capable of timing up to 30 minutes in maximum 1 second intervals and in good working order and reliable state of calibration
• compressed air source free from oil, dirt or any other impurities, at a pressure between 103KPa and 140KPa;
• freezer or cold chamber capable of maintaining temperatures of -2°C and -10°C ⁇ 1 °C (28°F and 14°F ⁇ 2°F);
• control sample - 50% w/w potassium acetate aqueous solution (this can be produced from anhydrous potassium acetate powder obtained from the Sigma Aldrich Corporation, St. Louis, MO, USA, and ASTM D1 193 type IV water).
• ii For each test to be performed, label a glass beaker with a number corresponding to one of the Petri dishes to be used in the test, so that all of the Petri dishes have a corresponding beaker. iii. Store the Petri dishes containing test ice sheets, syringes, sample of de/anti-icer product and control sample of 50% w/w potassium acetate aqueous solution at the required test temperature in the freezer/cold chamber for a minimum of 10 hours before proceeding to step iv.
• stop the digital timer then immediately pour the entire liquid contents of each Petri dish into the corresponding numbered beaker by raising the Petri dish to an angle of between 80° to 85° from the horizontal. Gently and carefully blow any final liquid residues from the Petri dish into the beaker using compressed air for a maximum of 10 seconds. This step must be performed in the freezer/cold chamber.
• step iv record the weight and number of the Petri dish.
• a given mass of the de/anti-icer in accordance with the present disclosure will, when applied to the surface of a sample of ice of known mass and surface area at -2°C (28°F) or -10°C (14°F), over a period of 5, 10 or 30 minutes melt a mass of ice at least 25% greater than the same mass of a 50% w/w aqueous solution of potassium acetate applied to a sample of ice with the same mass and surface area for the same time at the same temperature.
• a given mass of the de/anti-icer in accordance with the present disclosure will, when applied to the surface of a sample of ice of known mass and surface area at -2°C (28°F) or -10°C (14°F), over a period of 5, 10 or 30 minutes melt a mass of more than 40% greater than a 50% w/w aqueous solution of potassium acetate.
• the composition can also provide a reduced environmental impact compared to conventional de-icer products. This is shown in Table 4.
• the COD of the de/anti-icer composition of the present disclosure is significantly lower than that of monoethylene and diethylene mixed glycol, urea and also lower than potassium acetate solutions.
• the BOD 5 measured as the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed in five days by biological processes breaking down organic matter, is significantly lower for the de/anti-icer composition of the invention in comparison to monoethylene and diethylene mixed glycol, urea and conventional 50% w/w potassium acetate solutions.

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